NFL
By Monte Perez
Two years ago, Nate McMillan took over the reins as the Atlanta Hawks head coach. McMillan replaced Lloyd Pierce, who was fired in 2021 after starting the season 14-20. The Hawks went to the Eastern Conference Finals that year and made their interim coach their head coach. Last season the Hawks struggled with injuries and were bounced in the first round of the playoffs, 4-1, by the Miami Heat. Nate reminds me of Rex Ryan of the NFL. He is a defensive-minded coach who has no idea how to run a modern offense.
Everything the Hawks run is a high-ball screen. Numerous times, late in the shot clock, Trae Young or Dejounte Murray has to bail them out and make a play. Atlanta went out and acquired Murray to relieve some of the pressure off Young, but they refuse to run any plays for Trae off the ball. The Golden State Warriors use Steph Curry as a two-guard. Running plays for him off the ball constantly to get him an easier shot.
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I have watched every Atlanta Hawks game this season, I have seen Trae Young come off down screens twice in 7 games. This should have been implemented in training camp, and it has not. Everything for Young is a high screen, or him creating on his own…that is it.
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The Atlanta Hawks have one of the best starting five in the NBA. Yet, their offense is straight out of 1985.
- PG Trae Young, 29 points, 9.7 assists.
- SG Dejounte Murray: 20 points, 7.6 assists, 6.1 rebounds.
- SF De’Andre Hunter: 14 points, 3.6 rebounds.
- PF John Collins: 13 points, 9 rebounds.
- C Clint Capela: 8 points, 8 rebounds, 1.7 blocks.
Last season, Young became the first place since Nate Archibald to lead the NBA In most points and assists. Young and the Hawks are having success DESPITE their head coach. If Atlanta wants to have a chance and make a playoff run, they must move off McMillan. His style of coaching does not work with offensive-minded players.
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